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Diving · Basic · b5

Feet-first jumps from the edge

At home 15 min 1 and a grown-up Pool or water

Ready when: Are we ready: the entry test (b1) done (25 m unaided and comfortable out of their depth) and Dry-land diver (b4) started.

Start a session

What you are learning

Jumping into deep water feet first from the pool edge, entering upright and tight, and swimming straight back to the side. This is the first step toward the board; head-first entries wait for a diving coach.

Words on this card Entry, Feet first, Straight, Star jump, Take-off, Out of their depth
Entry
The moment the diver goes into the water.
Feet first
Going into the water feet first (a jump) or hands and head first (a dive).
Straight
The four body shapes in the air. Straight is the body long; tuck is knees hugged to the chest; pike is legs straight and folded at the hips toward the face; free is any mix, used in twisting dives.
Star jump
A jump with arms and legs spread wide in the air.
Take-off
Leaving the board or edge.
Out of their depth
In water too deep to stand in.

Set up

The deep end, at a place the pool marks and allows for jumping; clear water in front; nobody in the landing spot.

Weather: supervised water

The base setup for diving

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Check the water in front is empty and the pool allows jumping there.
  2. Stand tall at the edge, toes over it, arms by the sides, eyes ahead.
  3. Swing the arms up and jump out, then bring them down to the sides.
  4. In the water, swim straight back to the side and climb out.

Your part while they practise

Stand in line with the jump at the side and watch every entry.

Step by step

  1. Stand tall at the edge, arms at the sides, eyes ahead.
  2. Swing the arms up and jump out.
  3. Bring the arms down to the sides and enter upright and tense.
  4. Swim straight back to the side and climb out.
  5. Then the same backwards from the balls of the feet. Feet first only.

How much: 8 forwards and 4 backwards 15 min a session 1 day a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Shape jumps

Straight, tuck or star in the air, then straight again before the water; you guess the shape.

Who plays: the child against you; you guess.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. The child secretly chooses a shape
  2. They jump, show the shape in the air, and straighten before the water
  3. You call the shape you saw
  4. 8 jumps
Fair play
A younger child shows only straight and star.
Points
The child scores 1 point when you guess the shape right (it was clear), and 1 point for an upright entry with the arms by the sides.
Fouls
No points for that jump
  • Entering still in the shape, not straight
  • Jumping before the water is clear
  • Waiting in the landing spot after the entry
Winning
Beat your best from 8 jumps.
Stars
  1. 6 points for 1 star
  2. 11 points for 2 stars
  3. 15 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

The first jumps into standing-depth water, landing on the feet.

Harder

A quarter turn in the air.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the head drops Eyes ahead, chin upLook at the far wall.
  • the arms flap at entry Arms to your sidesPressed to the legs.
  • the body folds Tight from toes to headLike a pencil going in.

Self-check

5

5 jumps in a row entering upright and swimming straight back to the side.

Stop and get a coach when

The child wants to try head first or the board.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains feet-first entry, take-off, body tension.

Basic is done when the coach signs off the first level.

awiseathlete.com/sports/diving/diving-b5